Newcomers spark Wasilla boys in victory

WASILLA — A pair of newcomers sparked the Wasilla Warriors and a freshman brought the Warrior fans to their feet.

Freshman Dane Kuiper slammed home an alley-oop in the opening seconds of the game, and Kuiper and junior Eric Roberts combined for 17 first-half points to lead the Warriors to a 67-42 win over the Golden (Colo.) Demons during the first day of the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High School on Monday.

On Wasilla’s opening possession, senior guard Dillon Ferro tossed the ball up, Kuiper slashed up the baseline and dunked to wake up the Wasilla crowd and give the Warriors the lead.

“I don’t know how many freshman get to start their first (high school) basketball game at the varsity level, let alone dunk for their first score,” Wasilla head coach Ryan Engebretsen said. “To catch that (alley-oop) and finish was terrific.”

While Kuiper certainly earned all of the style points, Roberts also stood out in his Wasilla debut. The junior, who moved with his family to the Valley from Georgia, scored eight of his 12 points in the first half. He also finished with eight rebounds, five steals and four assists in the game.

“He’s fit in fairly well, we’re excited to have him,” Engebretsen said.

Kuiper scored eight of his 14 points in the first half. The contributions were key, considering Wasilla’s top talents — seniors Braydon Kuiper and Connor Devine — spent a chunk of the first half on the bench.

Braydon Kuiper was held to just a pair of free throws in the first half, and with two fouls spent about 12 of the first 16 minutes of the game sitting on the sideline. Devine, a Division I recruit, was scoreless through the first two quarters.

“That was huge. It was huge to find ways to keep the lead and keep doing the right things with two of the seniors sitting on the bench for a good portion of the first half,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen said it was good experience for the players such as Dane Kuiper, Roberts and sophomore Cash McGregor, who also saw ample minutes.

“It’s good to put a little pressure on them early, battle that adversity,” Engebretsen said. “There might be other situations where they’ll have to take care of things, make shots and value possessions, and be there defensively.”

The seniors came alive in the third quarter. Braydon Kuiper and Devine combined for 27 points in the final two quarters. Devine had 16 in the second half and 10 in the third.

“Those two had so much energy,” Engebretsen said. “They were just waiting and chomping at the bit. They know how important those first three or four minutes are and went out and made a statement.”

The seniors helped Wasilla put together a 21-point third quarter and 42-point second half.

Devine also led Wasilla with a game-high 13 rebounds. Braydon Kuiper added nine boards.

Nate Hill led Golden with 12 points.

Engebretsen said it was also nice to score a win over a Colorado team that advanced to the semifinal round of its state tournament last year. He said when inviting teams to the local tournament, organizers look for squads with recent success in state tourney play.

Wasilla continues Roudball Classic play today against West Anchorage at 4:30 p.m.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Wasilla 67,

Golden (Colo.) Demons 42

Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic

Monday, Wasilla High

Golden (42) — Johnson 2 0-0 5, Hill 4 2-2 12, Rickard 4 2-2 10, Chacho 4 2-4 10, Parker 1 0-0 3, Hangi 1 0-0 2; Totals; 16 6-10 42.

Wasilla (67) — Capo 2 0-0 4, Ferro 1 2-2 4, B. Kuiper 5 3-4 13, D. Kuiper 5 3-6 14, McGregor 1 2-2 4, Devine 7 2-5 16, Robert 5 1-3 12; Totals: 26 13-22 67.

Three-point field goals: Golden 4 (Hill 2), Wasilla 2 (D. Kuiper 1, Roberts 1); Total fouls: Golden 16, Wasilla 12.